Self adjusting grooved pliers

ABSTRACT

Self adjusting grooved pliers include a first section having a jaw portion and a channel formed therethrough, adjacent the jaw portion and a second section having a jaw portion and a pivot extending therefrom. The pivot is slidably received in the channel to allow wider or narrower association between the jaw portion of the first section and the jaw portion of the second section. The pivot pivotally couples the first section to the second section for movement between an open position and a gripping position. A plurality of grooves is formed in the first section and a tongue extends from the second section. The tongue is received in one of the plurality of grooves, locking the pivot in position within the channel only upon the first section and the second section reaching the gripping position. A biasing assembly acts on the pivot, urging the pivot upward in the channel toward the jaw portion of the first section.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/400,545, filed Aug. 1, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to hand tools.

More particularly, the present invention relates to grooved pliers.

In a further and more specific aspect, the instant invention concernsgrooved pliers which are self adjusting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pliers having jaws which are adjustable between various positions arewell known in the art. Typically, these types of pliers include twohalves each having a jaw portion the halves are coupled at a pivot by abolt or rivet. One half includes a channel allowing the pivot to beadjusted by moving the bolt or rivet therealong for a wider or narrowerassociation between the jaw portions of the halves. The conventionalgrooved pliers include a plurality of grooves formed in one halfproximate the channel for receiving a tongue formed on the other half.The adjustment is accomplished by opening the pliers fully so that thetongue leaves the grooves, and sliding the two halves until the tongueon one section aligns with the desired groove on the other section. Whenthe conventional pliers are closed a slight amount, the tongue entersthe groove and is locked into that adjustment, preventing movement ofthe pivot in the channel until the sections are fully opened again. Thisadjustment requires the use of two hands, and careful alignment of thetongue with the desired groove, or the pliers will not close. Moreimportantly, when in use if the pliers are at the wrong adjustment, thepliers must be removed and readjusted.

It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing andother deficiencies inherent in the prior art.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide new andimproved adjustable grooved pliers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide adjustablegrooved pliers which are self adjusting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide grooved plierswhich can be adjusted with one hand.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide adjustablegrooved pliers which can be adjusted while engaging an object.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, to achieve the desired objects of the instant invention inaccordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, provided are selfadjusting grooved pliers include a first section having a jaw portionand a channel formed therethrough adjacent the jaw portion and a secondsection having a jaw portion and a pivot extending therefrom. The pivotis slidably received in the channel to allow wider or narrowerassociation between the jaw portion of the first section and the jawportion of the second section. The pivot pivotally couples the firstsection to the second section for movement between an open position anda gripping position. A plurality of grooves is formed in the firstsection and a tongue extends from the second section. The tongue isreceived in one of the plurality of grooves, locking the pivot inposition within the channel only upon the first section and the secondsection reaching the gripping position. A biasing assembly acts on thepivot, urging the pivot upward in the channel toward the jaw portion ofthe first section.

In another aspect of the present invention, the biasing assemblyincludes a coil spring fitted into a handle portion of the first sectionand an extension member having an end engaging the coil spring and anopposing end extending into the channel and engaging the pivot. The coilspring and the extension cooperate to urge the pivot in the channeltoward the first jaw portion.

In another aspect, the biasing assembly includes a post extending fromthe pivot into a receptacle extending from the first section and a coilspring carried by the post within the receptacle. The compression springis compressed between the pivot and the receptacle.

In yet another aspect, the second jaw portion of the second section iscarried by a jaw element pivotally coupled to the second section. Thejaw element is movable between a start position and a finish position,and is biased into the start position by a biasing member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and further and more specific objects and advantages ofthe instant invention will become readily apparent to those skilled inthe art from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of self adjusting grooved pliers according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a disassembled plan view of the pliers of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the interaction of the tongue and groovesof the pliers of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the biasingmechanism;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of self adjusting grooved pliers according to thepresent invention, illustrating another embodiment of a biasingmechanism;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of self adjusting grooved pliers according to thepresent invention, illustrating yet another embodiment of a biasingmechanism;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of another embodiment of self adjusting groovedpliers according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a section of thepliers of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the pliers of FIGS. 7 and 8 as it appears inthe adjusting orientation;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the pliers of FIGS. 7 and 8 as it appears inthe locked orientation;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of yet another embodiment of self adjustinggrooved pliers according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a section of the pliers of FIG. 11 showingdouble tongues; and

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a section of the pliers of FIG. 11 showingdouble grooves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicatecorresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is firstdirected to FIG. 1 which illustrates self adjusting grooved pliersgenerally designated 10. Pliers 10 are similar to conventional groovedpliers with the exception that modifications have been made to thegrooves and tongues, as will be described presently, and a biasingmechanism has been added, which while advantageous, is not required.Pliers 10 include a section 12 having a jaw portion 13 and a section 14having a jaw portion 15, coupled at a pivot 16. Section 12 includes achannel 18 adjacent jaw portion 13, which receives pivot 16, allowingpivot 16 between sections 12 and 14, to be adjusted for a wider ornarrower association between jaw portions 13 and 15. Section 12 andsection 14 pivot about pivot 16 moving jaw portions 14 and 15 between anopen position and a gripping position.

Conventional grooved pliers include a plurality of grooves formed in onesection proximate the channel for receiving a tongue formed on the othersection. The adjustment is accomplished by opening the pliers fully sothat the tongue leaves the grooves, and sliding the two sections untilthe tongue on one section aligns with the desired groove on the othersection. When the conventional pliers are closed a slight amount, thetongue enters the groove and is locked into that adjustment, preventingmovement of the pivot in the channel until the sections are fully openedagain.

Pliers 10 of the present invention, includes grooves 20 formed insection 12 proximate channel 18 for receiving a tongue 22 formed onsection 14. Tongue 22 is shortened to a tooth or nub when compared toexisting grooved pliers tongues. Additionally, the positioning of tongue22 is such that it enters one of grooves 20 slightly before or when jaws13 and 15 come to a substantially parallel position with respect to oneanother. It will be understood by one skilled in the art that whiletongue 22 is shortened in this preferred embodiment, it may bepositioned in a radial position with respect to pivot 16 that the sameeffect occurs. By positioning tongue 22 in this manner, pliers 10 becomeself adjusting. Closing jaws 13 and 15 about an item to be engagedallows pivot 16 to travel along channel 18 until jaws 13 and 15 aresubstantially parallel (a preferred gripping position), at which pointtongue 22 enter one of grooves 20, locking sections 12 and 14 inposition and allowing the application of a clamping force to jaws 13 and15. One skilled in the art will readily understand that while thepreferred gripping position is when jaws 13 and 15 are parallel, orwithin a few degrees thereof, other gripping position can be employed.For example the gripping position can diverge from parallel by a fewdegrees or by many degrees as desired, as long as the gripping positionis less than a fully open position.

With additional reference to FIG. 4, a biasing assembly can be includedwhich acts on pivot 16, urging it upward in channel 18, toward jaw 13and into the smallest adjustment distance between jaws 13 and 15. Inthis embodiment, the biasing assembly includes a coil spring 24 fittedinto a handle portion 25 of section 12 and an extension member 26.Extension member 26 is preferably formed of a spring material such assteel or plastic and has an end 28 engaging coil spring 24 and anopposing end 29 extending into channel 18 and engaging pivot 16. Coilspring 24 and extension cooperate to urge pivot 16 in channel 18 towardjaw 13. Thus when in use, jaws 13 and 15 are in the closest or smallestsetting. Upon closing pliers 10, tongue 22 enters the first of grooves20 designated 20 a. Since the ideal gripping position of jaws 13 and 15are when they are parallel, it is desirable that jaws 13 and 15 bespread apart a greater distance for larger items. When a larger item isclamped, the jaws are opened sufficiently to engage substantiallyopposing sides thereof. As the jaws are drawn together by the closing ofsection 12 and 14, pivot 16 slides back in channel 18 away from jaw 13against the bias, until jaws 13 and 15 are substantially parallel orslightly before. At this point, by the positioning of tongue 22, tongue22 enters an aligned one of grooves 20, locking sections 12 and 14 intoposition and permitting a clamping force to be applied by jaws 13 and 15to the item being clamped. When pliers 10 is removed from engagementwith the item clamped, the biasing assembly urges pivot upward inchannel 18 with jaws 13 and 15 in the closest or smallest adjustmentprior to the next clamping operation.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, with additional reference to FIG. 3,grooves 20 are formed by a plurality of raised ridges 30 each having aleading edge 32 and a slanted leading face 33 slanting back therefrom.Tongue 22 also has a leading edge 35 and a slanted leading face 36slanting back therefrom. Leading faces 33 and 36 act in concert as acentering mechanism. When leading edge 35 engages slanted leading face33, tongue 22 is guided into the adjacent lower groove. When leadingedge 33 of tongue 22 engages slanted leading face 36, tongue 22 isguided into an upper adjacent groove. In this manner, pliers 10 willalways close smoothly without the need to manually align tongue 22 withone of grooves 20.

Turning now to FIG. 5, another embodiment of a pair of pliers generallydesignated 40 is illustrated. Pliers 40 are substantially similar topliers 10, including a section 42 having a channel therein, a section 43and a pivot 44. A slight modification has been made to the biasingassembly. In this embodiment, the biasing assembly includes a post 45extending from pivot 44 into a receptacle 46 extending from section 42.Post 45 is carried within a coil spring 47 which is compressed betweenpivot 44 and receptacle 46. Turning to FIG. 6, a receptacle 46 isillustrated with an open end.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, another embodiment of a self adjustinggrooved pliers generally designated 50, is illustrated. Pliers 50 aresimilar to pliers 10, including a section 52 having a jaw portion 53 anda section 54 having a jaw portion 55, pivotally coupled at a pivot 56.Section 52 includes a channel 58 adjacent jaw portion 53, allowing pivot56 between sections 52 and 54 to be adjusted for a wider or narrowerassociation between jaw portions 53 and 55. Grooves 60 are formed insection 52 proximate channel 58 for receiving a tongue 62 formed onsection 54. Tongue 62 is positioned such that it enters one of grooves60 slightly before or when jaws 53 and 55 come to a substantiallyparallel position with respect to one another. The difference, in thisembodiment, is the construction of section 54. Section 54 includes jawportion 55 carried by a jaw element 64 pivotally coupled to section 54between a start position and a finish position. The movement of jawelement 64 is biased into the start position by a spring 65. Spring 65includes opposing ends 66 and 67 received within depressions 68 and 69of section 54 and jaw element 64, respectively. Movement of jaw element64 is limited, in this embodiment, between the start position and thefinish position by a pin 70 extending from section 54 and received by aslot 71 formed in jaw element 64.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, the pivotal movement of jaw element 64provides more distance of travel of sections 52 and 54 after jaws 53 and55 become parallel. Thus, as an object is being engaged, as shown inFIG. 9, pivot 56 moves downward. When the object is engaged, and jaws 53and 55 are substantially parallel, tongue 62 enters one of grooves 60and prevents further movement of pivot 56 within channel 58. Continuedpressure on sections 52 and 54 causes jaw element 64 to pivot toward thefinish position. In actual operation, jaw element 64 remains stationaryrelative the object being clamped, and section 54 continues rotation asillustrated by arrowed arc A until jaw element 64 reaches the finishposition. By having section 54 continue rotation, tongue 62 is receivedfurther into the one of grooves 60. This provides a stronger and moresecure engagement for the application of clamping force to pliers 50.

Referring to FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, yet another embodiment of a selfadjusting grooved pliers generally designated 80, is illustrated. Pliers80 are similar to pliers 50, including a section 82 having a jaw portion83 and a section 84 having a jaw portion 85, pivotally coupled at apivot 86. Section 82 includes a channel 88 adjacent jaw portion 83,allowing pivot 86 between sections 82 and 84 to be adjusted for a wideror narrower association between jaw portions 83 and 85. In thisembodiment, two sets of grooves 90A and 90B are formed in section 52proximate a leading side top portion of channel 58 and a trailing sidebottom portion thereof respectively, for receiving a tongue 92A and atongue 92B formed on section 84 on substantially opposing sides of pivot86. Tongues 92A and 92B are positioned such that they enter one ofgrooves 90A and 90B respectively slightly before or when jaws 83 and 85come to a substantially parallel position with respect to one another.The difference, in this embodiment, is the use of a pair of tongues anda pair of grooves to provide added strength to pliers 80. Additionally,section 84 can include jaw portion 85 carried by a jaw element 94pivotally coupled to section 84 between a start position and a finishposition. The movement of jaw element 94 is coupled in a manner as shownwith pliers 50. Thus, tongues 92A and 92B enter more deeply into grooves90A and 90B, providing a stronger and more reliable engagement.

Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen forpurposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art.To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart fromthe spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within thescope thereof which is assessed only by a fair interpretation of thefollowing claims.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and consise terms asto enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same,the invention claimed is:

1. Self adjusting grooved pliers comprising: a first section having afirst jaw portion and a channel formed therethrough, adjacent the firstjaw portion; a second section having a second jaw portion and a pivotextending therefrom and slidably received in the channel to allow wideror narrower association between the first jaw portion and the second jawportion, the pivot pivotally coupling the first section to the secondsection for movement between an open position and a gripping position; aplurality of grooves formed in one of the first section and the secondsection; a tongue extending from the other of the first section and thesecond section, the tongue being received in one of the plurality ofgrooves, locking the pivot in position within the channel upon the firstsection and the second section reaching the gripping position; and abiasing assembly which acts on the pivot, urging the pivot upward in thechannel toward the first jaw portion, the biasing assembly includes acoil spring fitted into a handle portion of the first section and anextension member having an end engaging the coil spring and an opposingend extending into the channel and engaging the pivot, cooperating tourge the pivot in the channel toward the first jaw portion.
 2. Selfadjusting grooved pliers as claimed in claim 1 wherein the extensionmember is formed of a spring material.
 3. Self adjusting pliers asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the biasing assembly includes a postextending from the pivot into a receptacle extending from the firstsection and the coil spring carried by the post within the receptacle,the coil spring compressed between the pivot and the receptacle.
 4. Selfadjusting grooved pliers comprising: a first section having a first jawportion and a channel formed therethrough, adjacent the first jawportion; a second section having a second jaw portion and a pivotextending therefrom and slidably received in the channel to allow wideror narrower association between the first jaw portion and the second jawportion, the pivot pivotally coupling the first section to the secondsection for movement between an open position and a gripping position; aplurality of grooves formed in one of the first section and the secondsection; a tongue extending from the other of the first section and thesecond section, the tongue being received in one of the plurality ofgrooves, locking the pivot in position within the channel upon the firstsection and the second section reaching the gripping position; andwherein the second jaw portion of the second section is carried by a jawelement pivotally coupled to the second section, the jaw element movablebetween a start position and a finish position, the jaw element beingbiased into the start position by a biasing member.
 5. Self adjustinggrooved pliers comprising: a first section having a jaw portion and achannel formed therethrough, adjacent the jaw portion; a second sectionhaving a jaw portion and a pivot extending therefrom and slidablyreceived in the channel to allow wider or narrower association betweenthe jaw portion of the first section and the jaw portion of the secondsection, the pivot pivotally coupling the first section to the secondsection for movement between an open position and a gripping position; aplurality of grooves formed in the first section; a tongue extendingfrom the second section, the tongue being received in one of theplurality of grooves, locking the pivot in position within the channelonly upon the first section and the second section reaching the grippingposition; and a biasing assembly which acts on the pivot, urging thepivot upward in the channel toward the jaw portion of the first section,wherein the biasing assembly includes a coil spring fitted into a handleportion of the first section and an extension member having an endengaging the coil spring and an opposing end extending into the channeland engaging the pivot, cooperating to urge the pivot in the channeltoward the jaw portion of the first section.
 6. Self adjusting groovedpliers as claimed in claim 5 wherein the extension member is formed of aspring material.
 7. Self adjusting pliers as claimed in claim 5 whereinthe biasing assembly includes a post extending from the pivot into areceptacle extending from the first section and the coil spring carriedby the post within the receptacle, the coil spring compressed betweenthe pivot and the receptacle.
 8. Self adjusting pliers as claimed inclaim 5 wherein the jaw portion of the second section is carried by ajaw element pivotally coupled to the second section, the jaw elementmovable between a start position and a finish position, the jaw elementbeing biased into the start position by a biasing member.